ELIZABETH GUZSELY GALLERY
Cooktown School of Art Society Inc operates the Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery at 125 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, in far north Queensland. This history has been compiled with the assistance of member Elizabeth Johns.
THE HISTORY OF OUR GALLERY
In 1979, Elizabeth Guzsely with several other very enthusiastic artists decided to start an art society in Cooktown.
Elizabeth was born in 1934 in Budapest, Hungary – into a family of painters, musicians, singers, actors and writers. So, from an early age, art became a way of life.
Surviving the Russian invasion of Hungary during the World War II, she gained a Diploma of Fine Art at the Hungarian National Institute, and worked as a graphic artist within the main Hungarian Military Academy – surrounded by Old Masters and teachers from the Institute. Here she perfected her skills as a painter and illustrator. Resisting the Russian domination of Hungary in the post-war years, Elizabeth immigrated to Australia in 1957 with her husband Tibor Guzsely.
After living as itinerants, in 1977 the Guzsely family finally settled in Cooktown. When Tibor became an overseer with the Cook Shire Council, Elizabeth was soon invited to join a small group of amateur painters. Little did that group know what that invitation would mean for the whole community.
In 1979, together with Vera ScarthJohnson and their enthusiastic painting group, Elizabeth formed the Cooktown Art Society. Her considerable art skills and experience were acknowledged when she became the Society’s first art tutor.
Trevor Maudsley, a local Cooktown artist of some renown, said: “I had a great respect for her always, because she had so much knowledge.”
He noted that she always urged the group to be better, to raise standards higher.
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